The calmness of the sea at low tide is beautifully captured in this oil by Claude Monet

Key Features

Entitled De Voorzaan, this oil was painted during Monet's travels in Holland

Monet's mastery of light allowed him to capture the calmness of the sea and sky

Oil on canvas; Signed 'Claude Monet' (lower right)

Circa 1871

Canvas: 15 3/8" high x 28" wide; Frame: 23 1/2" high x 36" wide

Item Details

Width:
C: 28; F: 36 Inches

Height:
C: 15 3/8; F: 23 1/2 Inches

Period:
Impressionism 1860-1880

Origin:
France

Subject:
Maritime

Artist:
Monet, Claude

Claude Monet 1840-1926 French

De Voorzaan

Signed 'Claude Monet' (lower right)Oil on canvas

An important painting by Claude Monet, De Voorzaan is an exceptional example of the work of one of the most admired and recognized artists of all time. The work dates to his travels in Holland and depicts the harbor looking toward the southwest horizon. Monet was an unparalleled master of painting water, utilizing his sharp understanding of light to create a perception of shallowness of the ocean at low tide.

Monet was among the first artists to paint en plein air, or out in the open. His fascination with perspective, the play of movement and light, and his genius in reflecting it on canvas is most evident in this splendid work. By painting at low tide, he suggests the eventual return of the water, imparting transience to the scene. Simultaneously, he accomplishes the portrayal of this moment in time with such artistry that the setting is transformed into something timeless and eternal. Monet was a dedicated student of nature and he remained a naturalist his entire life.

Born in Paris in 1840, Claude Monet was a leading figure of the Impressionist movement. Renoir, Cezannne, and Manet were counted among his colleagues and his works stood beside theirs at the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874, the springboard for the entire Impressionist movement. Monet's works are represented in the finest museums around the world including the National Gallery in London, the Musee D'Orsay in Paris, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and many others.